Feast
of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple
It should go
without saying that if one has any possible means of traveling to a Church to
attend the
liturgy for the
feast, they should do so. However, if it
is not possible for one to do so, the following is
provided so that
at least they can participate in the feast to the extent possible, under such
circumstances.
Beatitude Verses: Feast 4 from Ode 3, Canon
1; 4 from Ode 6, Canon 2
[Those following Byzantine practice can replace
the usual antiphons, with the festal antiphons given in the
Festal Menaion, p195ff.]
1. Receiving the pure and undefiled one, who is more
splendid than all creation, the animate bridal chamber of God, the beautiful
Temple and chamber doth today appear as that which adorneth
the bride for her wedding.
2. David, preceding the chorus, doth leap and dance
with us, and declareth thee, O all-pure one, the
queen adorned, who standeth in the Temple before our King and God, O most pure
one.
3. From her, from whom transgressions went forth
among the human race, hath her correction and incorruption blossomed forth, the
Theotokos, who is led today into the house of God.
4.The angelic armies and a multitude of all men leap
up for joy, and they advance as lamp-bearers before thy countenance,
proclaiming thy majesty in the house of God.
5. O ye faithful, let us celebrate the spiritual
feast of the Mother of God, chanting piously; for she is more holy than the
heavenly intelligences.
6. With spiritual hymns let us praise the Mother of
the Light, O ye faithful, for she hath appeared to us today, going forth into
the temple of God.
7. O Father, Son and upright Spirit, Unity in three
hypostases, indivisible Trinity: have mercy upon those who worship Thy divine
might.
8. Contained in thy womb, O all-pure Mother of God,
He Whom nought could contain issued forth from thee in two natures: God and
man.
Troparion
Tone 4: Today is the prelude of
God’s good will /
and
the heralding of the salvation of mankind. /
In
the temple of God, the Virgin is presented openly, /
and
she proclaimeth Christ unto all. /
To
her, then, with a great voice let us cry aloud: /
Rejoice,
O thou fulfillment //
of
the Creator’s dispensation.
The Epistle
Reader: The Prokimenon in the 3rd Tone: My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath
rejoiced in God my Savior.
Choir: My soul doth
magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Reader: For He hath looked upon the lowliness of
His handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me
blessed.
Choir: My
soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Reader: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
Choir: And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior
Reader: The Reading is
from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews:
[Hebrews 9:1-7]
Reader: Alleluia in the 8th Tone.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: The rich among the people shall entreat
thy countenance.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28]
Kontakion
Tone 4: The most pure temple
of the Savior, /
the
most precious bridal-chamber and Virgin, /
the
sacred treasury of the glory of God, /
is
on this day brought into the house of the Lord, /
bringing
with her the grace that is in the Divine Spirit. /
And
the angels of God chant praise unto her: //
she
is the heavenly tabernacle
Instead of “It is truly
meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th Ode of the First Canon of
the feast, Fourth Tone:
Refrain: The angels beholding the entry of the most pure one were struck with wonder, seeing how the Virgin
entered into the Holy of Holies.
Irmos: Let no profane hand touch the living Ark of
God, but let the lips of the faithful, chanting unceasingly the words of the
angel to the Theotokos, cry out with joy: Truly art thou high above all, O pure
Virgin.